Good day of sampling.

[NuggetN8]

Today I headed out to one of my spots that I usually go prospecting at to do some sampling to see where there's gold left, how big the gold is downstream, and maybe find a spot to dredge next time. I've been hitting this creek really hard over the years but I've only worked down to a certain point. I found an area where there was overburden and a huge mass of tree roots. It looks like an area where the water flows directly into it when the water is higher because it causes the creek to make a sharp turn. I've concluded that in this creek the bigger nuggets are mostly only on the upper end of the creek and the further down you go the smaller the gold is because there's a lot of waterfalls and the creek doesn't have that much flow. Here's some pics of the gold I found there. From about 2 buckets of dirt. Next time I go I'll gravity dredge the area where I found it. Not sure when that will be but I'll make a post.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Treasure of Victoria Peak - Grab it through Amazon!

[NuggetN8]

N8, sorry to beat this into the ground and thank you for your patience, BUT, how do you get the siphon started on something that size? I read before about a valve at the end to hold the water in the hose once it's filled . How do you get the draw into the hose to fill it? And would a valve incorporated into the crashbox connection be too restrictive? I could see in decent moving water the flow would probably suffice but I'll be working out of a large pool with a 2ft high bank on the down stream side. Maybe if I got enough hose submerged first that might work?
Thanks this has been very helpful.
OBD

I've never used a valve before but it could work. Not sure what type of valve you would need. I just shove an empty soup can that has a 3inch diameter in the end and use a hose clamp to keep it in there. Then you have to set the intake in the water so the water can flow in. You can't submerge it completely or it won't fill up as fast. And you have to make sure there's not areas in the hose where the water wouldn't be able to get past when you're filling it up. (Areas where the hose goes up then back down) If you try a valve make sure rocks that are about 3inch can make it through.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Cry Of The Eagle: History And Legends Of The Cherokee Indians And Their Buried Treasure - Grab it through Amazon!

[oldbrundogg]

I was thinking a large ball valve, they usually open to the same diameter as the hose they're connected to, but it might get beat up quickly as the rocks and gravel moved through it.
Wish I knew how to send you a video of the spot then you could see that I would have to go up and over the end of the pool.
OBD

 

[NuggetN8]

I was thinking a large ball valve, they usually open to the same diameter as the hose they're connected to, but it might get beat up quickly as the rocks and gravel moved through it.
Wish I knew how to send you a video of the spot then you could see that I would have to go up and over the end of the pool.
OBD

You would have to put the video on YouTube then copy and paste the link into a reply.

 

[sagthegreat]

Looks like those pieces of gold barely fit on that coin, I can have some and solve that problem for you :P

but anyways nice, looks like a promising spot

 

[oldbrundogg]

N8, I asked my youngest if he new how to do what you said, he said he did so if he gets a chance, after homework and after I cut his hair I'll try to get that posted. I'd be interested in your opinion.
OBD

 

[NuggetN8]

N8, I asked my youngest if he new how to do what you said, he said he did so if he gets a chance, after homework and after I cut his hair I'll try to get that posted. I'd be interested in your opinion.
OBD

Ok sounds good. I'd be happy to help. Gravity dredging is really fun.

 

[oldbrundogg]

Ok N8, hope this works it was shot last aug. late I think so water level is low you can see white mark is high water level. I'm standing where water would flow out at end is shot down stream.
OBD

 

[NuggetN8]

Ok N8, hope this works it was shot last aug. late I think so water level is low you can see white mark is high water level. I'm standing where water would flow out at end is shot down stream.Video Link: http://youtu.be/w9PKtHRIo-A
OBD

Kind of hard to tell if it would work there or not. I'd need a better view of what it looks like downstream. But it looks like a nice hole. Have you found gold in that creek before?

 

[oldbrundogg]

Yes, I found one spec up above the falls when I first bought my sluice. I think I could do better now after a year on this website learning and using my sluice in other spots?? Agree I should have sent my son down the creek to get some perspective.
Maybe I can get down there this weekend shoot some more video now that I know how to do it. It's only a 20 min drive and 20 min hike but it is straight up coming back. I'm sure it's running good now also.
OBD

 

[NuggetN8]

Yes, I found one spec up above the falls when I first bought my sluice. I think I could do better now after a year on this website learning and using my sluice in other spots?? Agree I should have sent my son down the creek to get some perspective.
Maybe I can get down there this weekend shoot some more video now that I know how to do it. It's only a 20 min drive and 20 min hike but it is straight up coming back. I'm sure it's running good now also.
OBD

Would be a good idea to test around there more and make sure there's good gold before you buy stuff to gravity dredge. Maybe if there's a hole above the waterfall you could test it out up there if you end up getting the stuff.

 

[oldbrundogg]

Yes N8, I know your right the old eggs in one basket thing, just time is limited right now.
OBD

 

[NuggetN8]

Either tomorrow or some other day this weekend I'm going to try and get out to the creek and gravity dredge. Ill attempt to make a video to post. Most likely Sunday.

 

[Dox]

N8, I asked my youngest if he new how to do what you said, he said he did so if he gets a chance, after homework and after I cut his hair I'll try to get that posted. I'd be interested in your opinion.
OBD

Here is a link that expains siphon/gravity dredges from the canadian gold prospectors forum;


Intro to siphon and gravity dredges

 

[NuggetN8]

Went gravity dredging today in the same spot that I was sampling and I did pretty well. Pictures and maybe a video coming after I clean up.

 

[NuggetN8]

Ok here's some pics. That's the hole I sucked out. I had to upgrade to a quarter to put my gold on up from a dime xD.

 

[Jeff95531]

Well Done Sir and well presented!

 

[oldbrundogg]

Yes very nice N8, it looks like that hole had plenty of water in it. Was it staying full even while suctioning it? Hard to tell how deep did you go under or just long arm?
Again very very pretty GOLD!!
OBD

 

[NuggetN8]

Yes very nice N8, it looks like that hole had plenty of water in it. Was it staying full even while suctioning it? Hard to tell how deep did you go under or just long arm?
Again very very pretty GOLD!!
OBD

Wasn't too deep probably about 1.5 ft. It didn't affect the water level at all. I was using my 2". I might post a video I took while I was there it wasn't in that same hole and I'm not sure how it turned out yet. Ill have to edit it a little bit. The water wasn't very deep where I filmed so its really close up.

 

[oldbrundogg]

Sounds great,

As usual I'm probably just over complicating it in my head. That's one of the main reasons I wanted to see an over view.
OBD

 

[NuggetN8]

Sounds great,

As usual I'm probably just over complicating it in my head. That's one of the main reasons I wanted to see an over view.
OBD

Didn't get a view of the setup in the video just of the intake sucking gravel. Ill try for an overview next time. Where I was today I couldn't really see my sluice from the top because it was downstream behind some big boulders. You'll be able to see how good it sucks stuff up though.